PM wins new partnership with Beijing

In a speech to be delivered in Beijing on Tuesday, Prime Minister Gillard will outline Australia’s vision for the relationship with China over the next decade, including economic, defence, clean energy and educational links.
Photo: Jessica Dale

Related Quotes

Company Profile

Any deal is likely to involve an annual dialogue between the Australian prime minister, treasurer and foreign minister and Chinese officials.

But the formation of the annual dialogue has previously been held up over concerns China will not put forward its top foreign affairs official to meet his Australian counterpart.

More details due to be announced

Under the Chinese system, the foreign minister is outranked by a state councillor with responsibility for the portfolio, while the president has overall carriage of the issue.

It is unclear who China will put forward to pair with Australia’s foreign minister, but details are expected to be announced on Tuesday.

Xinhua reported that the Chinese side will be led by its premier (prime minister), the country’s second-ranked leader.

“In a move to further boost bilateral ties, the two countries have also pledged to build an annual meeting mechanism between their prime ministers," Xinhua reported.

This suggests Mr Li, who was officially installed as Premier in March, will have primary responsibility for the Australia-China relationship.

The Premier, who is fluent in English, has a law degree and a PhD in economics, is seen as a modern leader who has already demonstrated a good sense of humour and general lack of formality. While he is more junior than the president, he has responsibility for the economy, including crucial issues like deregulation and market access for foreign companies.

PM to outline long-term vision

Ms Gillard avoided questions on the strategic partnership in Shanghai on Monday in an apparent effort to make the announcement on Tuesday – the final day of her five-day trip

“We will continue to work on the architecture of the relationship between our two countries," she said.

The Prime Minister said at the outset of her trip that securing such an agreement was a key objective.

In a speech to be delivered in Beijing on Tuesday, Ms Gillard will also outline Australia’s vision for the relationship with China over the next decade. This includes economic, defence, clean energy and educational links.

“Our different national conditions will inevitably lead to differences from time to time, including over human rights," Ms Gillard will say, according to an advance copy of her speech.

“As partners, we engage each other with deep respect. We will acknowledge our differences and manage them constructively. We have done this for years."

On Sunday, Mr Xi said he wanted to take his country’s relationship with Australia to a new level, after the meeting with Ms Gillard.

Ms Gillard said Mr Xi had reflected on the Australia-China relationship over the past 40 years and referred to building on that foundation over the next 40 years. The meeting lasted close to 45 minutes and Ms Gillard said she left with a deep sense of optimism for the future of the relationship.